Let It Be Sunday!

Best of luck to your sister. She does seem like the sweetest!

The “But He Didn’t Hit Me” post did hit close to home. Not personally, but a friend of mine has been in a relationship just like that for years. As I kept reading, I found so many points I could relate to her situation, and I know there’s so much I’m not even aware of.
It’s so important to talk about these things, and I’m glad there are brave women (and men) willing to talk about their experiences.

I have just re-read the Age of Rudeness – thank you very much for posting. I have come to realize that rudeness is a sort of false assumption of power for the powerless and has taken root where there isn’t enough money for anyone much less everyone. Money equaling power – power to buy, power to work where and how you want, power to help yourself. When there is little or no money, the sense of control over your own life goes away usually permanently. The loss is filled by assuming a strong sense of victimization (not necessarily wrongly as most of us below the one percenters are being victimized in every sense of the word) which needs anger to sustain it. The anger spills over into rudeness – in verbalizing, in the written word, and even in body language.

We don’t need anyone else to destroy us – we are doing a fine job all by our individual selves.

At base, all wars whether individual or by populations are fought over resources. When individual resources for sustaining the self with a reasonable amount of dignity and hope for the future are lost, what is left is interpersonal war. Interpersonal war is a two-word definition for rudeness.

The Christian ethic is to turn the other cheek. I guess that makes me pretty much a heathen because my one resolution for the current year was to stop being a doormat and fight back against deliberately rude behavior on nearly every occasion it is delivered in my face – and in the area I live you might be surprised to learn that rude behavior is the norm and not the exception especially in retail establishments and mis-labeled “service” businesses. I have perfected the icy stare in response and sometimes a pithy, very icy (not hot – that can get you shot!) verbal response. Followed by turning my back and walking away.

Just read ‘The Age of Rudeness’-Wow! Thanks for sharing that.I will be sharing it as well.

I found the border photos to be interesting, mainly because they show such calm. I live on the border in West Texas, and it is so peaceful by the border. The border fence is already in place, and the bridges are so fluid. It’s a unique dynamic. No one here is afraid of Mexico or its relationship to the U.S. and crossing over is no big deal with proper documentation. I did see some graffiti a week ago at a park about…less than 1000 ft from the border I walk at once a week. Somebody had spray painted profanity regarding not needing a wall. It was painted over the next week, which makes me wish I had taken pictures!

Can I just say how envious I am of the fact that you have now seen Amos Lee live at least 3 times (by my count)?! Love love love ?? his music! We saw him in Minneapolis last fall and I cannot stop thinking about it and replaying my videos from the night. Leaning on the stage while he played “Windows are Rolled Down”. ????Cannot wait for the chance to see him again!

Uber! Do you realize they refuse to offer services to passengers who use wheelchairs and cannot transfer in to the backseat of a vehicle or whose chair doesn’t fold to be stowed?

Their refusal has resulted in many legal actions internationally, Their defense has been that they are not a transportation provider but a technology company.

Do you think it is right that wheelchair users are barred from a growing source of transportation. In NYC, it is estimated that there are between 40,000- 60,000 Uber vehicle which are driving the 13,000-14,000 TLC regulated yellow taxi out of business.

These are medallion owners who bought the right to street hails, some at cost to a million dollars only for NYC to change the rules and let Uber & others pick up passengers who guaranteed to the yellow cab.

In a recent court settlement the City agreed that 50% of yellow tax would become accessible by 2020.

At this point in the discussion, we’re usually asked why we can’t use special or other transportation services. The bottom line us we use transportation options the same as you do.

There are some who have adapted personal cars, some of us use buses & the subway, some use patatransit and some sit in the pouring rain as buses go by leaving us on the sidewalk!

Edith M Prentiss, Chair of the Taxis For All Campaign, a civil right and social justice for 20 years.